Hey there Danielle,
Welcome to planDisney and thank you so much for your question and for your family's service!
When visiting the Disneyland Resort, you need both valid
theme park tickets and a
theme park reservation for each day you plan to visit. Currently, as of the time that I'm answering your question, Guests can purchase tickets and book their theme park reservations through mid-November 2026.
While there hasn't been any official announcements, from what I've experienced in past years, you should be able to start booking your holiday 2026 visits within the next few months. In the past, January of the following year has been available to start booking by June or so - though again, that is always subject to change and there haven't been any updates on how that will be released this year quite yet.
What I typically do when I'm looking to book for early in a new year is keep an eye on the
theme park tickets purchase page to see how far out the availability goes and the
Disney Parks Blog to check for news and updates.
As for military discounts, if you're purchasing through the Disneyland Resort then I would suggest checking the
Offers & Discounts page! There are discounts offered throughout the year - including military discounts - so you'll just want to read the Important Details section near the bottom of the promotion's page to make sure you would qualify for that offer. Additionally, you can often find discounts through military bases as well!
Ringing in the New Year in the parks is a wonderful way to celebrate! It is one of the busier times of the year to visit, but it's also one of the most magical times as well. The
holiday season decorations will be up and the parks are typically open later on New Year's Eve with additional fireworks shows (weather permitting). You'll have a blast!
Thanks again for your question, Danielle! I hope you and your family have a wonderful visit to the Happiest Place on Earth.
Have a Magical Day,
Greg